KARACHI: The government will announce a ferry policy soon which is expected to initially cover the service between the ports of Karachi, Muscat, Chabahar and Dubai, Minister of Ports and Shipping Mir Hasil Khan Bizenjo said on Wednesday.

He was speaking at the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI).

After listening to a long list of complaints and issues related to port congestion and inefficiency, the minister quipped that in the West even jails were managed by the private sector but in countries like Pakistan ports could not be privatised.

Mr Bizenjo said the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is a blessing as it would resolve energy crisis in the near future.

He said the country needs jobs for youth and only private sector could generate employment through industrialisation.

During the last three years, he said, the economy has started to gain strength and major macro indicators have improved.

Mr Bizenjo said the Ministry of Ports and Shipping has direct link with trade and industry, therefore, their demands and issues have to be handled on priority.

He further disclosed that Gwadar Port is going to become operational within next three months because the link road from Gwadar to Rethodero was nearing completion.

Earlier FPCCI Senior Vice President Shaikh Khalid Tawab said there were long delays in clearance of cargo due to port congestion and slow turnaround of ships.

The minister assured him that all issues related to ports and shipping would soon be resolved.

Chairman Standing Committee FPCCI on Ports and Shipping Tariq Haleem, Zubair Tufail, Hanif Gohar and Zulfikar Ali Shah were present at the event.

Chairman KPT Vice Admiral (retired) Shfaqat Javeed, Director General Gwadar Port Authority Dostin Khan Jamaldini, and Director General Ports and Shipping Asad Rafiq Chandna were also present at the occasion.

Published in Dawn, August 25th, 2016

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